Students in Development Management (DM) typically satisfy their core requirements in their first semesters and focus on their electives and their capstone in their final semester(s). Full-time DM students who begin in the fall semester are encouraged to take: 

1. SIS-637 International Development 

2. ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory* 

3. One of the following: 

a. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods 

b. An approved course in administration or management from Social Enterprise, business or public administration 

*There are two required economics courses for DM students:  

1. ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory, and

2. SIS-731 Economic Development  

Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON-603: Intro to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-731: Economic Development. ECON-603 is waived for DM students who pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam. If you do not pass the exam, you must take ECON-603, which will count towards your elective(s). All DM students are required to take SIS-731 Economic Development.  

Tariq Nadim is the academic advisor for DM.  

Full-time first semester students in the Ethics, Peace and Human Rights program are encouraged to take: 

1. 2-3 of the following:  

a. SIS-733 International Peace & Conflict Resolution Seminar I

b. SIS-622 Human Rights  

c. PHIL-693 Global Ethics  

d. SIS 642 Intercultural Relations 

2. One of the following: 

a. A course approved for the ‘Choose One’ requirement. For Fall 2025, the available ‘Choose One’ options are listed on the approved course list. (see list below). Additional options will be available in future semesters.  

b. An approved methodology course. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website or view the approved course list for Fall 2025 options (see list below). 

c. An approved core concentration course, if you have clearly decided your concentration focus. When selecting a concentration course, please consult the list of suggested courses offered in Fall 2025.   

d. Full list of approved courses for EPHR listed here. 

Heidi Holland (hholland@american.edu) is the academic advisor for EPHR. 

First semester students in the Global Environmental Politics program are encouraged to take: 

1. SIS-660: Environment and Politics 

2. Two of the following: 

a. An approved “choose one” course or, after a discussion with your academic advisor, a concentration course. 

b. An approved research methods course. 

c. An approved natural science course. 

d. An economics course. (When selecting an economics course, please note that all GEP students must complete SIS-652: Introduction to Environmental Economics. SIS-652: Intro to Env Econ requires prior experience with micro- and macroeconomics. Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON-603: Intro to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-652: Intro to Env Econ. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam.  

Students should consult the GEP course list for approved methods, natural science, and “choose one” courses. (In order to access the list, you will be prompted to log into a Microsoft page using your AU email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.)  

Tariq Nadim is the academic advisor for the GEP program. 

First semester students in the Global Governance, Politics, and Security program are encouraged to take:   

1. SIS-707: Global Politics  

2. An economics course : When selecting an economics course, please note that all GGPS students must complete SIS-616: International Economics. SIS-616: Int’l Economics requires prior experience with micro- and macroeconomics. Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete SIS-601: Essentials of Economics and Data Analysis prior to taking SIS-616: Int’l Economics. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam.  

3.  An approved course in your chosen concentration  

Students can find the list of approved concentration courses here: GGPS Approved Concentration Courses. (In order to access the list, you will be prompted to log into a Microsoft page using your AU email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.)  

Mike Rosenberger is the academic advisor for the GGPS program.  

First semester students in the International Affairs Policy and Analysis (IAPA) program are encouraged to take: 

1. SIS-760: Complex Problems in International Affairs 

2. SIS-600: International Affairs Statistics and Methods  

3. A course in their intended competency track or a concentration course 

a. Students can find the list of approved competency courses here: IAPA competency courses. (In order to access the list, you will be prompted to log in to a Microsoft page using your AU email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.) Students interested in beginning their concentrations are encouraged to schedule a brief meeting with their advisor over the summer to discuss their interests and course selection. 

Jessica MacArthur is the academic advisor for IAPA.

First semester students in the Intercultural and International Communication program are encouraged to take:   

1. 2-3 of the following: 

a. SIS-733 International Peace & Conflict Resolution Seminar I  

b. SIS-622 Human Rights  

c. SIS 642 Intercultural Relations 

2. One of the following: 

a. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods  

b. A gateway or concentration course within the selected field of study. When choosing a gateway or concentration course, please consult the list of suggested concentration courses for Fall 2025 and your academic advisor.    

Heidi Holland (hholland@american.edu) is the academic advisor for IC. 

Students in International Development (ID) typically satisfy their core requirements in their first semesters and focus on their concentration and capstone requirements after completing the core. Full-time first semester students are encouraged to take: 

1. SIS-637 International Development 

2. ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory*  

3. One of the following: 

a. SIS-636 Power and Practice in Development (if not taken in fall, will be taken in spring) 

b. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods 

c.  A course for their concentration. Suggested concentration lists can be viewed HERE. Students may consult the ID Course List for suggested concentration courses for fall. (In order to access the list, you will be prompted to log into a Microsoft page using your AU email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.) 

*There are two required economics courses for ID students:  

1. ECON-603: Introduction to Economic Theory, and  

2. SIS-731 Economic Development 

Students must either pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam or complete ECON-603: Intro to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-731: Economic Development. ECON-603 is waived for ID students who pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam. If you do not pass the exam, you must take ECON-603, which will count towards your electives. All ID students are required to take SIS-731 Economic Development. 

Tariq Nadim is the academic advisor for ID.

First semester students in the International Peace and Conflict Resolution program are encouraged to take:    

1. 2-3 of the following: 

a. SIS-733 International Peace & Conflict Resolution Seminar I  

b. SIS-622 Human Rights  

c. SIS 642 Intercultural Relations 

2. One of the following:  

a. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods  

b. An economics course*

*Students may choose SIS-619 Economics of Violence and Peace, ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory, or SIS-616 International Economics (Please note that students must pass the SIS economics placement exam to waive the pre-requisite for SIS-616: International Economics. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam).

*Students pursuing a dual-degree between IPCR and the Master of Arts in Teaching or the Master of Theological Studies should consult with their academic advisor when planning their course schedule. 

Heidi Holland (hholland@american.edu) is the academic advisor for IPCR.  

1L JDMA students will not begin taking courses in SIS until their 2L year. 2L and 3L JDMA students should contact their academic advisor, Jessica MacArthur, for registration suggestions. 

Students beginning the Master of International Service Executive degree program (MIS) in the fall semester are strongly recommended to take:   

 1. SISG-775 Cross-Cultural Leadership & Management* (only offered in fall):  SIS Online Programs course with on-campus** immersion Friday, September 20 – Sunday, September 22  

2. SIS-686 Proseminar in International Affairs: International Relations Theory 

3. If the student is full time and/or is unable to take the above courses, it is recommended then the student consider one or two of the following: 

a. A Concentration course (Concentration courses may be chosen from any of the SIS graduate offerings depending upon the student’s individual interests and training needs. A list of suggested concentrations can be found on the back page of the MIS advising worksheet.)  

b. An Economics course (Chosen from the approved economics courses on the MIS advising worksheet) 

c. A Research Methods course (Approved course list is available on the SIS Graduate Advising website) 

*This course involves a special registration process, reg link will be sent mid-summer. Information regarding the course will follow. Email mis@american.edu with questions about the in person/immersion part of the course. 

Mary Curby (mcurby@american.edu) is the academic advisor for MIS.  

Students in the Master of International Service degree program following the International Studies Track for students from international partner institutions should register for three courses in their first semester:   

  1. A Research Methods course, if required (see admissions letter for more information) or an Economics course, if required (see admissions letter for more information) 

2. Two - three concentration courses (depending on required courses listed above). Concentration courses may be chosen from any of the SIS graduate offerings depending upon the student’s individual interests and training needs. A list of suggested concentrations can be found on the back page of the MIS:IST advising worksheet.  

Depending upon the number of credits of Advanced Standing awarded upon admission and whether a student is required to take an economics and/or methods course, students take between 9 and 15 credit hours in the concentration, followed by a 3-credit capstone in their second semester. 

Skills institutes may only be taken toward the concentration if the student will take greater than 9 credits in their concentration.  

Melanie Brisse is the academic advisor for MIS:IST. 

Students in the Natural Resources and Sustainable Development program take three required courses in the fall semester:  

1. SIS-660 Environment and Politics 
2. One of the following economics courses:  

a. ECON-603 Intro to Economic Theory (For students without a background in micro- or macroeconomics) 

b. SIS-652 Introduction to Environmental Economics (Students must pass the SIS Economics Placement Exam in order to register for SIS-652 Environmental Economics. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam.) 

3. A “Choose One” course. Students should consult the GEP-NRSD course list for approved “choose one” courses. (In order to access the list, you will be prompted to log in to a Microsoft page using your AU email address and password. Please use username@american.edu not username@student.american.edu.) 

Marley Crutcher is the academic advisor for NRSD.  

First-semester students in the United States Foreign Policy and National Security program are encouraged to take:  

1. One of either SIS-689 Foreign Policy: Theories of Decision Making or SIS-682 Foreign Policy: Institutions and Processes (These courses will also be offered in spring 2026.) 

2. Two of the following (if full-time): 

a. SIS-657 Continuity & Change in USFP   

b. SIS-682 or SIS-689, whichever not selected above 

c.  An approved “Contemporary Statecraft” course. See Fall 2025 list of approved Foundations of Contemporary Statecraft options.

d. An approved economics course (see below). Important: Students planning to take SIS-601 Essentials of Economics and Data Analytics should do so prior to taking SIS-600. 

e. SIS-600 International Affairs Statistics and Methods  

When selecting an economics course, please note that all USFP students must complete SIS-616 International Economics, SIS-652 Intro to Environmental Economics, or SIS-731 Economic Development. Most students will also need to take either SIS-601 Essentials of Economics and Data Analytics or ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory prior to taking SIS-616, SIS-652, or SIS-731. For students with strong backgrounds in economics, SIS-601/ECON-603 can be waived by passing the SIS Economics Placement Exam. Visit the SIS Graduate Advising website for more information regarding the SIS Economics Placement Exam. 

Melanie Brisse is the academic advisor for USFP.